Wearing apparel



A'. SIMPSON WEARING APPAREL Nov; 16, 1937.

Filed March 15, 1936 Ja M1, 7W 1) of the wearer below the waist.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE WEARING APPAREL Alexander Simpson, London, England.

' Application'March 13, 1936, Serial No. 68,675 In Great Britain July 8, 1935 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-237) is a corresponding view of part of the shorts but This invention relates to wearing apparel and more particularly to trousers, shorts, ladies skirts and the like. 7

Womens shorts and ladies skirts of the ordi- 5 nary construction are dependent mainly for their support on the tightnessof the waistband which tightness not only interferes with that freedom of movementwhich is essential in playing games but also produces an impression of fullness of front The invention has for an object to provide a construction of shorts, skirts or the like by which these disadvantages are avoided andwith the use of. which the figure is. fully supported while freedom of 7 l6 movement is permitted and a straight front apj pearance provided. 7

v To this end in accordance with the invention the waistband and a portion' of the body materialof the trousers, shorts or skirt is interrupted in front and in the gap presented is fitted a panel of elastic material corresponding more or less in width and depth with the extent of the abdomen, such panel forming in conjunction with the garment a body belt for the support of the abdomen and providing the necessary support for the trousers, skirt or shorts. This panel of elastic material which is preferably of the type known as two-way stretch material can be sewn or otherwiseattached permanently or temporarily to the bodyof the shorts or skirt at one or'both sides of the gap, or can be detachably fitted in any suitable manner. The trousers, skirt or shorts 7 may have a portion covering the belt and adapted to be fastened in any usual way as at one side.

A front flap may however be provided tocover the belt and complete the waist band and this flap may be provided with straps for attachment to buckles at the-sides of the waist band. 7

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1

is a front elevation of a pair of womens shorts illustrating the invention applied thereto and employing a front flap, the front flap being shown in folded down position to illustrate the belt. Fig. 2

stretch elastic material extending across and sub- 3 showing the front flap in normal position.

As shown and in accordance with the invention, the waist band I and a portion of the body material 2 of the shorts is interrupted in front to present a gap 3 of substantially the depth and width of the abdomen. In the gap 3 is fitted a panel 4 of elastic material, suitably two-way stretch material, the panel in the form shown being provided at each side with button holes 5 10 for attachment to buttons 6 along the edges of the gap 3. Any other means of attachment of the panel to the body portion may be provided and such attachment may be permanent or temporary. For instance, the panel may be sewn to 15 the body material on one side of the gap and attachable by buttons or other fastening means to the body material on the other side. The body material of the shorts in the form illustrated is provided with a front flap 1 adapted in the raised position to cover. the panel and provided with straps 8 adapted to be engaged by buckles 9 or the like attached to the waist band I.

It will be appreciated that when the panel is in position it forms a support for the abdomen 25 and for the shorts and the straps 8 need not be drawn tight to support the shorts. Consequently a straight front appearance is presented.

I claim:

A garment of the kind referred'to including a 30 trunkand limb-covering portion and a waist band, said trunkand limb-covering portion and said waist band presenting a gap at the front side of the garment, a unitary panel of two-way stantially filling said gap, means for attaching said panel to said trunkand limb-covering portion, a flap 0 said trunkand limb-covering portion adapted 0 cover said panel, a pair of straps attached to said flap one on each side of said flap, 0

and a pair of buckles on said waist band for fastening said flap in position over said panel.

ALEXANDER SIMPSON, 

